Protective device



July 1, 1941. sw -r 2,247,592

PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1939 IN VENTOR.

Geafgell. jweffi ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 1, 1941 UNITED STTES OFFICE Claims.

The present invention relates to a protective or buffer device and more particularly to a buffer or buffer structure applicable to doors for protection against violent contact or impingement with adjacent objects.

Doors on vehicles, in particular, are regularly subject to actuation in their confined spaces and particularly in the vicinity of adjacent vehicles where opening of a door may result in contact with finished surfaces. In such cases metallic impingement may and frequently does result in damage or marring of the surfaces. This is particularly the case in respect of the outer protruding door handle, which generally provides the point of contact. It is within the contemplation of the present invention, therefore, to provide a door handle buffer which is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction and which may be mounted upon a door handle to protrude beyond the surfaces thereof and provide a resilient buffer or protector.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved buffer of resilient material adapted to be readily and securely mounted upon door handles of widely varying shape and form and which is securely retained in position against displacement while conforming in appearance with the associated parts. 7

The invention additionally contemplates the provision of a buffer or protective member as above which has a portion adapted to cooperate particularly with door handles of the type comprising locking or latching mechanisms or other relatively movable parts to protect these parts against dirt and weather conditions. It is well known that look barrels on vehicle doors exposed to the weather are frequently clogged by dirt and atmospheric conditions, preventing access to the interior of the vehicle. In particular, the ingress of moisture in this unprotected area under freezing conditions frequently results in the complete inability to release the lock. These and additional inconveniences are completely obviated by the present invention, in accordance with which the resilient buffer is so constructed as to provide a removable sealing portion extending over the vicinity of the part to be protected.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a buffer construction as above in which the covering or lock-protecting portion is resiliently mounted and capable of ready actuation to uncovering position where a key may be inserted into the barrel.

Numerous other objects and advantages will a be apparent throughout the course and progress of the following specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door handle and a portion of a door upon which the handle is mounted showing in position thereon a buffer constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective detail view showing an alternative preferred form of the protective buffer construction;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified preferred form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 5 disclosed in operative position on one type of doorhandle;

Figure 7 is a detail end view of modified forms of the buffer shown in Figure 6 disclosing alternative interior constructions of the handle-encompassing portion;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 in Figure 2; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 in Figure 2.

Referring to the figures of the drawing wherein the present invention is illustrated more in detail, Figures 1 and 2 show one form of a door handle buifer constructed in accordance with the present invention, the said buffer being designated generally by the reference numeral l0 and being disclosed as applied to a handle l2 on a door Hi. The door It may comprise, for example, the door of a vehicle such as an automobile, .but it will be understood that the present invention is applicable to any similar door or other constructions, whether movable or not, wherein any of the advantages of the present invention may be availed. The handle l2 comprises an outwardly projecting portion l6 and a generally transversely extending shaft l8 secured thereto and adapted to toe manually grasped and forms one preferred type of known latch control. The buffer or protective device I 0 shown for illustrative purposes is formed with a relatively short tubular portion 20 which appears at the adjacent right-hand end of the unit in Figures 1 and 2 and which is adapted to engage readily about the transverse portion l8 of the handle.

It is contemplated in accordance with the present invention that the unit I0 be formed of .a resilient material such as rubber, wherefore it will be readily understood that the barrel or tubular portion 20 may be freely slid to position over the manually engageable portion 18 of the handle and will be retained frictionally in the position shown. A wall of the tubular portion 20 adjacent one side thereof is extended as at 22 in a direction generally axially of the tubular body portion to extend over the end or heel of the handle portion adjacent the shaft I6. Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the wall portion 22 is molded in a gentle curve which corresponds to the curve of the handle at this point. Although handle structures may and do vary as to curvature in accordance with the design thereof, the inherent resiliency of the unit will obviously permit conformation to a wide variety of shapes and forms. In particular, it should be noted that the wall portion adjacent its end 24 terminates in a portion extending generally transversely to the axis of the portion [8 of the door handle and may, if desired; be formed in a slight reverse curve,- the purpose of this construction being to assure engagement withthe handle in such a manner as to effectively'resistinadvertent disassembly of the parts Joy-movement of the unit to the right upon the handle; That is to say, while the tubularportion effectivelygrasps the handle about the lateral circumference thereof, the wall portion 24 extending across the axis prevents displacement in one axial direction. Movement in the other axial direction is of course prevented by theshaftlfi;

It may accordingly be stated that the present protective. unit provides a portion resiliently grasping themanual portion of the handle, which portionis extended to providea wall residing outside the-end of the handle andadjacent the heel portion thereof while providing an aperture for the passage of the shaft portion of the handle..That is to say, portions only of the wall of .thetubular section 20 are extended to provide a cover for the adjacent portions of the handle. The central outer portion in the wall 22 will obviously tend to first impinge adjacent objects when the door is swung open, and when formed of resilient material, such-as rubber, will be adequate to protect the surfaceseven though the protecting wall of rubber is relatively thin. r. Attentionis particularly directed to the manner' in which even the non-tubular portions of thejprotecti-ng device engage about the handle, as shown in Figure 9'. There it will be seen, thatthe sectional configuration of the wall 22 is such thatit isalmost tubular, only a relatively small portion of the tubular wall having been removed. to permit 'mounting over'the heel portion of. the handle in the manner shown; in the drawing. Thus, the present invention providesa structure which resilientlyrtends to snugly fit about the exposed outer surfaces of the handle tolprovide a construction which is not only extremely dimcult, if not impossible, to displace from the position shown, but which co operates to provide a pleasing, uniform appearance. LIt should be "noted-that the marginal portions of. the cushioning means are relatively thickened such thickened portions extending along .the oppositely extending boundaries of the wall portion 22 *as at 26, while an annular thickened portion 39 provides a beadlike conformation adjacent the right-hand edge of the tubular section 20. I 1 Shouldthe' handle I2 comprise a locking controlmeansit will be apparent, that this means would be protectively encased by the resilient sheath provided, since locking adjuncts are normally associated with the shaft portion l6 of the handle. Access of foreign matter would therefore be impossible. On the other hand, the left-handmost end of the unit as viewed in the figures may be readily grasped and moved outwardly to uncover the locking aperture when desired.

The alternative structure shown in Figures 2 and 3 discloses a preferred modification particularly constructed to perform the covering and protective function hereinabove described. In the embodiment disclosed, the particular door handle structure comprises a lock barrel construction 32 (Figure 4) for locking control of the adjacent door. The relative location of the key aperture 34 is indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3. The protective device in this instance comprises a generally tubular body portion, as before, having its outer wall extended axially and laterally as at 36, providing a thickened ribor arm portion similar to the. aforementioned rib 26. The resilient arm portion .36 supports a cuplike, circular conformation 38. at a point spaced from the tubular section 20,. which cuplike portion 38 is so arranged as to reside sub- I stantially directly above the region ortne key aperture 34, as clearly appears inFigures 3"and 4. In view of the concavity of this element, it will be apparent that its peripheral edges will engage about the surfaces of the door handle surrounding thelocking barrel to seal and protool; the movable elements; That is to say, as pointed out above it is contemplated that the axially extending arm 36Ibenormally molded or formed. so that it tends to progressively extend across the axis of the buffer unit sothat when arranged on the door handle the arm 35 and the protecting cup 38 are pressed firmly thereagainst by the inherent resiliency Ofthe-ll-liit; The freeend of the arm 36 is. extended as to 40 to provide asmalLreadilyi accessible tabcapable of being engaged'by the fingers." To apply a key to the aperture 34 it is merely necessary to engage the lug or tab 40 to, resiliently spring the arm 36 to the dotted-line position shown in Figure 4. I

A modified form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6 is in general similarto that shown in Figures 3 and but differs in that the arm 3B is laterally and transversely relatively widened as at 42, terminating in opposite shoulder portions 44. The laterally widened portions 44 not only furnish a valuable bufi'er but constitute a thumb portion cooperating with the lateral shoulders 44 so that the device may be grasped and pulled outwardly for access to the key aperture. In this embodiment, Web portions 46 and 48 additionally interconnect the protective cup 38 with the arm 36;

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate 'modified interior configurations of the tubular portion 20. Inaccordancewith the former embodiment, three inwardly projecting ribs 50' extend axially of the interior surface. It has been'found, in accordance with the present invention, that these rib structures permit wide applicability of thetubular portion about a wide variety of handles regardless of considerable variations in size and sectional configuration, the rib portions 50 being" readily compressible and deformabletozpermit' this function. In accordance with the embodi ment shown in Figure 8, the corresponding inner surface is axially serrated as at 52 fora similar purpose. The structure further promotes the firm interengagement of the parts in operative position.

The present invention provides a very simple and effective protective device for handles, and particularly handles on vehicle doors. The present unit is arranged so that it projects into position to cushion contact and, being formed of resilient material, cannot operate destructively upon adjacent surfaces even though moved relative thereto.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A protective buffer device for a handle structure or the like comprising a generally tubular portion adapted to be received by a longitudinally extending part of said handle to grasp the said part for retaining the buffer in operative relationship upon the handle, an arm extending generally axially from the tubular portion and adapted to lie adjacent the outer surface of said handle, and an inwardly facing cup-shaped member mounted on the arm at a point substantially spaced from said tubular portion for permitting flexure of the arm intermediate of the space, said cup-shaped member extending laterally therefrom on both sides to protectively cover adjacent surfaces of the handle mechanism.

2. A handle buffer and protective device formed of resilient material and adapted for protectively engaging a door handle having portions to be protectively enclosed comprising a portion adapted to engage about the handle to retain the buffer in place, and an arm extending axially from said handle-grasping portion and being normally inclined in a direction towards the axis of said handle-grasping portion, said arm being secured adjacent one side of the handle-grasping portion and being of substantial thickness and adapted to extend along the outer surface of the handle in operative position to provide a resilient bufl'er, said arm having mounted thereon an inwardly facing cup-shaped member for engaging over a door handle key hole aperture of the handle structure in protective relationship thereto to prevent access of foreign material.

3. A handle buffer and protective device formed of resilient material and adapted for protectively engaging a door handle having portions to be protectively enclosed comprising a handle-encompassing portion adapted to engage about the handle to retain the buffer in place, and an arm extending generally axially from said handlegr-asping portion and being normally inclined in a direction towards the axis of said handlegrasping portion, said arm being secured adjacent one side of the handle-grasping portion and being of substantial thickness and adapted to extend along the outer surface of the handle in operative position to provide a resilient buffer, said arm having mounted on the inner surface thereof an inwardly facing concave disk for engaging over a predetermined portion of the handle structure in protective relationship thereto to prevent access of foreign material to a lock or the like.

4. A handle buffer and protective device formed of resilient material and adapted for protectively engaging a door handle having portions to be protectively enclosed comprising a handle-encompassing portion adapted to engage about the handle to retain the buffer in place, an arm extending generally axially from said handlegrasping portion and being normally inclined in a direction towards the axis of said handlegrasping portion, said arm being secured adjacent one side of the handle-grasping portion and being of substantial thickness and adapted to extend along the outer surface of the handle in operative position to provide a resilient buffer, said arm having mounted thereon at a point spaced from said encompassing portion a concave laterally extending cap member for engaging over a predetermined portion of the handle structure in protective relationship thereto to prevent access of foreign material to a lock or the like, and a manually actuable tab on said arm projecting beyond the cap and adapted to be manually contacted by the fingers to draw the arm resiliently outwardly of the handle whereby to selectively uncover the portions normally enclosed thereby.

5. A handle buffer and protective device formed of resilient material and adapted for protectively engaging a door handle having a keyhole aperture therein, said buffer comprising a handle encompassing portion adapted to engage about the handle to retain the buffer. in place, a narrow arm extending axially from said handle encompassing portion, said arm having a substantially cup-shaped member operatively mounted on the inner surface thereof for resiliently engaging over the front portions of a key-receiving structure, said cup-shaped enclosing member being substantially spaced from said handle-encompassing portion whereby said cup-shaped enclosing member is readily removable from the vicinity of said key-receiving structure by outward flexing of said arm, said arm being provided with finger gripping means for permitting manual manipulation to uncover said key-receiving portion.

, GEORGE L. SWIFI. 

